How To Cook Basmati Rice (Perfect And Fluffy) - Love & Other Spices

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Learn how to cook fluffy basmati rice on the stovetop that’s not sticky and have perfect rice every time!

Perfect Basmati Rice

As a South Asian I’ve been eating rice my whole life and cooking ever since I know how to boil water. So I know a thing a two about cooking the perfect rice.

We start with, rinsing the rice. Rinsing the rice gets rid of extra starch that makes it gummy and sticks together. Simply place the rice in a bowl with cold water, swish the rice around using your hands to release the excess starch. The water will be cloudy at first but after several rinses, it will be clear.

Next, is the rice to water ratio. There are many basmati rice varieties and they all don’t absorb the same amount of water. But a good starting point is for every cup of rice you need 1.5 cups of water. If it needs more water, we can sprinkle some at the last stage.

Then, the cooking time. You simmer until all the water is absorbed and let the rice rest undisturbed for 10 minutes.

INGREDIENTS

• Basmati Rice
• Butter, Ghee or oil – olive oil, avocado oil or vegetable oil
• Salt – Kosher salt or sea salt
• Flavorings(optional) – Bay leaf, cardomom, curry leaves or cinnamon

Step by Step Process

How To Make Basmati Rice on Stovetop

Follow these steps to cook basmati rice perfectly!

1. Place the rice in a bowl and add enough water to cover the rice. Using your hands, swish the rice around to remove excess starch. Pour the water out, leaving the rice in the bowl. Rinse the rice several times until the water runs clear. Drain the rice.
2. In a medium sized pot, add drained rice, water, salt, oil and bayleaf and bring to a boil.
3. Turn the heat to medium low, cover with a tight fitting lid. Cook rice until all the water is absorbed.
4. Turn the heat off and allow the rice to steam for another 5 to 10 minutes.
5. Remove the lid and fluff the cooked rice using a rice paddle or a spoon.
6. Serve warm.

Best Tips

Recipe Tips

• Rinse – some might skip it but this is important for a clean tasting rice whether it comes from package or from a bulk bin.
• Drain – so you don’t carry over excess water to the pot resulting in sticky rice.
• Boil without lid – don’t cover the pot with the lid until the first boil.
• Tight fitting lid – a loose fitting lid let’s out water and steam and you’ll end with undercooked rice.
• Rest – once all the water is absorbed, turn the heat off and let the rice rest. Rice will continue to cook throughout. DO NOT open the lid and let the steam out!
• Fluff – for fluffy rice, fluff the rice with a rice paddle or a thin spoon so as not to break the grains. Use a gentle scooping motion to loosen the rice from the edges of the pot to the middle.
• Firm rice – If the rice is firm even after resting, sprinkle some water on top, cover and cook on a low simmer for an extra 5 minutes.

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Do you need to soak the rice?

No, you don’t need to soak the rice. For some dishes like Biryani and pilaf, you might need to and the recipe will specifically call for it.

What To Serve Basmati Rice With

Cooked basmati rice makes a great side dish for any main dish. Serve plain rice with curries or stir-fries. I like to serve them with:

• Sri Lankan Chicken Curry,
• Ground Meat Curry(Keema)
• Butter Chicken.
• Cauliflower Coconut Curry

Or sauce-based dishes like Air Fryer General Tso’s Chicken.

If you like this recipe, I’d love it if you can give me a rating and comment! Share it with your family and friends! ❤️

Recipe

How To Cook Perfect, Fluffy Basmati Rice

Author: Farwin Simaak Learn how to cook basmati rice on the stovetop that's not sticky and have perfectly fluffy rice every time! 5 from 1 vote Print Recipe Pin Recipe Prep Time 5 minutes minsCook Time 25 minutes minsTotal Time 30 minutes minsServings 4

Equipment

• Cooking pot, strainer, large bowl

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 cup basmati rice
• ▢ 1.5 cups water
• ▢ 1 tsp salt
• ▢ 1 tbsp butter, ghee or oil
• ▢ 2 bay leaves, cardomom or cinnamon optional

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Instructions

• Place the rice in a bowl and add enough water to cover the rice. Using your hands, swish the rice around to remove excess starch. Pour the water out, leaving the rice in the bowl. Rinse the rice several times until the water runs clear. Drain the rice.
• In a medium sized pot, add rice, water, salt, oil and bayleaf and bring to a boil.
• Turn the heat to medium low, cover with a tight fitting lid. Cook rice until all the water is absorbed about 12 to 15 minutes.
• Turn the heat off and allow the rice to steam for 10 minutes.
• Remove the lid and fluff the cooked rice using a rice paddle or a spoon. Serve warm.

Notes

• Store – in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave until warm.
• Freeze – portion the rice in freezer bags and freeze for 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat.
• For tips to cook the perfect Basmati rice refer to the post above.

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Nutrition

Calories: 188 kcal | Total Carbs: 36 g | Protein: 4 g | Fat: 3.2 g | Saturated Fat: 2 g | Fiber: 2 g DID YOU MAKE THIS?I want to know! Leave a comment & recipe rating below or tag @loveandotherspices on social media! Course Dinner, Main Course, Side DishCuisine Chinese, Indian, Sri Lankan

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